Troubles for Christmas Tree Farmers

Here it is December 26, and the tree is holding up. The madman and I can’t imagine not having a live Christmas tree. But it seems we are in the minority. Nearly 8 out of 10 households decorated an artificial tree this year.

An Unusual Christmas Tree

Talk of shortages and high costs may have pushed people over to what the madman calls the “dark side”.  I have to admit that our tree didn’t come from a traditional source like a Christmas Tree Farm or a Christmas Tree Lot. It’s not even a spruce or a fir. It’s an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) that we found growing in the guardrail by our driveway.

It had been there for about 7 years. When the madman first discovered it, he was amused. How could a Juniper seed sprout so close to the road? A perfect example of nature’s aggressiveness. We don’t know if it was the wet summer of 2023 or what, but this year that Juniper took off. Suddenly we couldn’t see to pull out of the driveway. It had to go and we needed a Christmas tree.

The madman had heard rumblings of supply shortages and steep prices for trees. So, the concept of a free tree was right up his alley. At first, we were quick to blame the wild fires for tree shortages. Remember all the smoke we smelled this past summer? But, the more we looked into it, the more we realized that the fires were only a small part.

Tree Farmers Have It Tough

Christmas Tree Farmers are not unique. Like any other farmer, they deal with weather extremes, labor costs, material costs, supply chain issues and inflation. But, instead of growing a crop that will mature in one season like the madman’s hot peppers, their crop takes 8-10 years to mature. A lot of stuff can happen in eight years.

Let’s talk about this. A lot of the trees planted for this past Christmas started around 2015 or 16. Do you remember 2016? Probably not, unless you are a farmer. Not only was it the second warmest year recorded, Connecticut faced a severe drought. Farmers watched as entire fields of seedlings shriveled. Drought conditions returned in 2020, and again in 2022.

Drought Harms Trees

Generally, drought most affects younger trees whose roots are shallow. But at any age, a drought-stressed tree can cause a farmer untold grief. Lack of water may cause wilted or discolored needles. Or the needles may just fall off. Without water, a Christmas tree may have fewer branches and may not look as full. The madman’s mother would never have put up with a tree like that. And she’s not alone. As a result of drought, farms may not have as many beautiful, healthy trees to sell.

The troubles don’t stop there. During drought years, Tree Farmers may lose a number of trees. Without water it’s difficult to replace them. Also, water stressed trees are more susceptible to pests and diseases.

Rain Harms Trees

Lack of rain may be bad; but too much is just as bad. Too much rain saturates the soil and can cause root rot. Saturated soil also allows spores of the deadly disease Phytophthora to spread through the field. Since there is no cure for the disease, all a farmer can do is watch the trees die. Since 2010, Connecticut has had the three wettest years on record, 2011, 2018 and 2023.

Animals Harm Trees

Mother Nature causes other problems, too. Although Christmas Tree Farms are great for harboring native wildlife like birds and insects, some of the wildlife can be destructive. Deer like to rub their antlers on the trees to remove the velvet growth. Wouldn’t you know they prefer smaller trees with a trunk diameter of 2”-3”. Fighting bears can also cause a problem. If two large males are fighting over territory, trees are often damaged in the brawl. And then there are the underground rodents doing a number on the root systems.

So, while you and I are celebrating Boxing Day, Christmas Tree Farmers are looking ahead to next Christmas. If they are lucky, they can take a short break around this time of year, but it will be short. There is no real off-season. In addition to monitoring weather conditions and watching for destructive mammals, they have a lot to do if they want healthy trees to sell next year.

Work To Do

Trees need to be pruned and shaped. They need to be fertilized and irrigated during dry periods. They need to be monitored for pests and diseases. Any sign of a problem must be dealt with immediately. Spider mites, Aphids and Adelgids can damage foliage and affect tree health. Fungal diseases discolor needles or cause branch death. Without the proper nutrients, Christmas Trees won’t thrive, so a farmer must constantly monitor his soil conditions. And, he has to be on the watch for invasives and any other weeds that will steal nutrients from the trees.

I’m sure we have just scratched the surface of issues facing these growers. After all, we grow mostly annual crops, not something that takes 8-10 years to harvest. The madman is now scouring his sources to select the best crops for his upcoming season. We imagine that Christmas Tree Growers are trying to predict what trees Joe Public will want to decorate 10 years from now – spruce or fir or pine.

If you look forward to decorating live trees for Christmas, hug a tree farmer. Or, better yet, buy him a cup of hot cocoa.

Just like the one the madman is having right now.